Portable electric unit for toothbrush or the like



July 20, 1965 Filed July 5, 1965 H. KOTT PORTABLE ELECTRIC UNIT FORTOOTHBRUSH OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Herbe/"f INVNQT?? July 20, 1965H. KOT-r v 3,196,299

' PORTABLE ELECTRIC UNIT FOR TooTHBRUsH 0R THE LIKE Filed July 5, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN R Her-eff Kogf 19 7' TURA/EVS United States PatentO 3,196,299 PGR'IABLE ELECTRIC UNET FR TIHBRUSH R THE LIKE Herbert Katt,River Edge, NJ., assigner, by mesne assignments, to ScovillManufacturing Company, Water bury, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutFiled .Iuiy 5, i963, Ser. No. 293,@32 13 Claims. (Qi. 31u-Q51) Thepresent invention relates to a power actuator to which a toothbrush maybe releasably attached to cause vibratory or oscillatory movement of thetoothbrush to thereby provide movement of the brush to effect properbrushing of a use-rs teeth and/or gums.

While it has heretofore been proposed to provide toothbrushes with avibratory or oscillatory motion by means of electrical or mechanicalpower, such devices have not been found to be completely satisfactory.These devices have generally been intended to be used by more than oneperson with each persons toothbrush being capable of being easilyattached and removed from the device. Where such devices required aspecific connection on the toothbrush handle to enable attachment to thedevice, there has generally been less variety of toothbrushes availableto enable a user to select the most desirable toothbrush, as to bristlehardness, brush contour, handle color, etc. than the variety oftoothbrushes available with manually graspable handles. A useraccordingly had been deprived of being able to have a suflicientselection of brushes from which to choose that one most desirable tohim. Furthermore, wherein such vibratory devices are to be used by morethan one person, it has been found that each person has been unable tohave the device produce the degree or amplitude of movement of thetoothbrush that each person individually desired for proper brushingaction.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a poweroperated actuator for xirl-toothbrush in which a toothbrush having ahandle of the usual rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape for manualgrasping may be employed, thereby permitting a user to attach the sametoothbrush in the device which he had been using for manual brushing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a power actuatorfor a toothbrush which has an adjustment that enables the user toquickly and efficiently set the degree or amplitude of movement of thetoothbrush.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a power actuatorfor a toothbrush which is electrically operated and may employ either abattery rechargeable by the usual household current or with minorchanges utilize conventional dry cells.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide ya poweractuator for a toothbrush which achieves the above-noted objects andwhich is relatively economical to manufacture, composed essentially offew parts and durable in use.

In carrying out the present invention a feature thereof resides in theprovision of an adjustment whereby the degree or amplitude of vibrationof a toothbrush may be adjusted by each user to that found mostpreferable. As disclosed hereinafter in the specilically describedembodiment, an electric motor having an eccentric weight is secured to amotor support with the support being resiliently mounted on a handleportion that is grasped by the user in such a manner that the motorsupport is capable of moving with respect to the handle portion. Themotor support carries on the end opposite the motor carrying part atoothbrush such that movement of the motor support causes theoscillation of the brush. To control the amplitude of the oscillations,the present in- ICC vention utilizes a resilient mounting of the motorsupport on the handle portion and enables the user to control therigidity of the resilient mounting. Thus by increasing the rigidity ofthe mounting the degree of amplitude of movement of the toothbrush canbe decreased while by increasing the resilience of the mounting theamplitude may be increased.

Another feature of the present invention provides for enabling atoothbrush having the conventional handle that is elongate andsubstantially rectangular in cross-section to be quickly and easilysecured to the motor support. This is achieved according to the presentinvention by the use of a pair of chuck jaws having parallel sides, withthe sides of the jaws being movable toward and away from each other uponmovement of an easily grasped member. Thus by utilizing the member thejaws may be opened and closed to thereby release or clamp respectively atoothbrush handle of conventional construction to the power actuator.

Gther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FEGURE 1l is an elevation of the power actuator for a toothbrush of thepresent invention having a toothbrush secured thereto.

FG. 2 is an axial section, somewhat enlarged, of the power actuator.

PEG. 3 is a top view of the power actuator shown in FG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a section taizen on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the bottom portion of the power actuator for atoothbrush of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical componentsof one embodiment of the power actuator of the present invention.

FIG, 9 is an electrical schematic diagram ot electrical components, a`further embodiment, wherein rechargeable batteries are employed inplace of dry cells.

FIG. l0 is a partial vertical section similar to FIG. 2 of theembodiment of the power actuator for a toothbrush that utilizesrechargeable batteries.

FIG. d1 is .a section taken on the line 1li-ll of vtFlG. l0.

FIG. l2 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. l0.

FIG. 13 is a bottom View of the embodiment of the power actuator for atoothbrush shown in FIG. l0.

Referring to the drawing, the power actuator for a toothbrush of thepresent invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral Ztland, as shown in FIG. l, has a toothbrush 2l releasably secured theretoso that the actuator may impart oscillatory movement to the toothbrush.The actuator 2li is formed to provide a tubular handle by an enclosedbottom part Z2, a hollow lower casing 23 and a hollow upper casing 24that are secured together. Additionally, forming the exterior of theactuator is a vibratory amplitude adjusting nut 25 and a toothbrushhandle clamping nut 26. Preferably, as will be hereinafter appreciated,the bottom part 22 is only releasably secured to the lower casing 23with the casings 23 and 24 being permanently joined together and each ofthese parts is formed to the shape shown of plastic material.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is positioned within the upper casing 24 aDC. electric motor 27 of the rotary type that has at its lower end aneccentric weight 2S such that rotational movement caused by the motorrotates the eccentric weight to produce vibrations. The motor is rigidlysecured in a motor support 2.9 which is preferably formed of plastic tothe shape shown to provide a lower D cylindrical recess 30 and an uppercylindrical recess 3l, the recesses being defined by cylindrical walls32 and 33 respectively. The motor 27 is secured in the lower recess 30,as by for example a press t between the exterior of the motor and theinterior surface of the wall 32.

In accordance with the present invention, the motor support 29 isresiliently mounted on the upper casing 24 for vibratory movement withrespect thereto so that the vibrations of the support 29 caused by themotor 27 and weight 28 are transmitted to the toothbrush 22 that isreleasably held in the upper recess Si. The resilient mounting includesa somewhat spiral spring 34 having one end 35 secured in a flange 3oformed in the motor support between the upper and lower recess and itsother end 37 is secured in an internal annular rib 38 formed at theupper portion of the upper casing 24. With this construction it will beappreciated that the motor support 29 is only spring mounted in thecasing 24 and hence may move with respect thereto against the action ofthe spring 34.

For enabling the adjustment of the vibratory movement of the motorsupport and hence the amplitude of vibration of the toothbrush 2l, anouter portion of the wall 33 is threaded as at 39 for threadingengagement with an internally threaded portion 4@ of the adjusting nut25. The nut 25 further has an end portion 4l that abuts an end 42 of thecasing 24. In addition, positioned between the nut and the upper casingand the motor support 29 is a resilient rubber sleeve 43 that providesan elastic pivot between the motor support and the upper casing 24. Withthis structure of mounting the motor support, it will be appreciatedthat amplitude of vibration may be adjusted by manipulation of theadjustment nut 25. Thus if the nut is turned so that the spring 34 iscompressed, i.e., in effect moves the motor housing outwardly orupwardly from the casing, then the rigidity of the spring is increasedwhich resists the oscillation of the motor support produced by therotating eccentric weight 28. The maximum outward movement is limited bya snap ring 39a secured on the wall 33. On the other hand, rotation ofthe nut 24 in the opposite direction, which in eifect enables the spring34 to pull the motor support within the casing, increases the resilienceof the spring 34 thereby permitting the motor support to vibrate with alarger amplitude. The toothbrush 21 that is releasably secured to theactuator 20 is of conventional type having a handle 2in of substantiallyrectangular cross-section which is inserted within the upper recess 3land is grasped by a pair of jaws 44 and 45 that have a connecting bightportion 4o. The, jaws are moved with respect to each other to open andclose by moving them in and out of the recess 31 so that a flaringexterior surface 47 and 48 of the jaws 44 and 45 respectively abuts andis moved by the end 4 9 of the wall 33. The jaws are normally biased toopen position by the bight portion 45. For maintaining the jaws inposition and to facilitate the movement thereof, the collet nut 26 isformed with a threaded portion 50 that threadedly engages a threadedportion l on the wall 33. In addition, the collet nut has an inwardlydirected annular tongue 52 that cooperates with grooves 53 and 54 formedin the chuck jaws. Accordingly, by rotative movement of the collet nut,the jaws are moved in and out of the upper recess 31 to effect theirmovement toward and away from each other respectively. It will ybeappreciated that the interior surface of the chuck jaws 44a and 45a areplanar or iiat in the embodiment shown and thus they may grasp the sidesof a conventional toothbrush handle having the usual rectangularcross-section with the remainder of the handle being positioned in therecess 31. Thus the electric toothbrush of the present invention mayutilize presently available toothbrushes that have handles designed forhand grasping.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2,

the electric motor 27 is powered by a pair of dry cells 55 ornon-chargeable batteries confined within the lower casing 23 by ribs 23ahaving the shape shown. To this end, a lead 57 extends from the motorthrough a connecting clip 5S to one end of the battery 55 while theother end of the battery 55 engages a conducting rivet 59 secured in adisk 60 forming a part of the bottom part 22. The adjacent end of thebattery 56 is also in engagement with a contact rivet el secured to thedisk 60 while the upper end of the battery 56 is connected to aconnecting clip 63E which in turn, through a cap 63 formed in the upperpart of the lower casing 23, connects to a lead 64 to the other side ofthe motor 27.

Positioned within the bottom part 22 is a manually operable switch forcontrolling the conduction of current between the motor 27 and thebatteries 55 and 55. The switch includes a pivot pin 65 secured to thedisk 60 and which pivots an arm 66 having a knob portion 67 extendingthrough an aperture 68 formed in the bottom part for enablingmanipulation thereof by a user. The contact rivet 6l has secured theretoa resilient conductor 69 having the shape shown that has an end 69apositioned in alignment with the end of the contact rivet 59. The end 6%is normally biased away from the contact rivet 59 and movement thereofto cause electrical engagement therebetween is effected by a cam surface70 formed on the arm 66 that forces the end 69a against the contactrivet 59. With the arm 66 in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6,the cam surface 7i) permits the end 69a to be away from the contactrivet 59.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom part 22 is preferably molded of plasticmaterial to have arcuate threads 71 that cooperate with arcuate threads72 formed in the lower casing 23 to thereby only releasably secure thebottom part to the lower casing and thus permit changing of the drycells 55 and 56. In addition, the bottom part has a disk 73 that closesolf the bottom part.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 through 13 inclusive the power forsupplying the motor instead of being from dry cells is from a batterythat is capable of being recharged by ordinary household electriccurrent.

The only change necessary in the heretofore described structure of apower actuator is to substitute the lower casing shown in FIGS. 9through 13 for the lower casing and bottom part shown in the previouslydescribed embodiment. Referring to the electrical schematic diagrams,FIGS. 8 and 9, FIG. 8 of the lirst described embodiment discloses amotor placed in series with the dry cells and the switch. In theembodiment using the rechargeable batteries, hereinafter generallyindicated by the reference numeral 74, the motor 27 is also placed inseries with a switch 75 and rechargeable battery 76. In addition, thereis provided a one-Way valve 77 connected to one terminal 78 with theswitch being connected to another terminal 79. According to the presentinvention the terminals 7S and 79 are adapted to be connected to asource of household current and thereby effect charging of the battery76.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. l0, the lower casing is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 80 and is hollow to contain therechargeable battery 76. The lower end of the battery 76 is supported byand in electrical engagement with a bracket 81 mounted on a supportingdisk 82 with the batterys upper end baring against a spring 83 thatabuts a closing plate 84 integrally formed with the lower casing 80. Thesupporting disk 82 has the terminals 73 and 79 secured therein to extenddownwardly with the terminal 79 being connected to the bracket 81, thelatter being electrically connected to the lower end of the battery. Inaddition the one-way valve 7'7 is connected to the other terminal 78 andto a common junction 85, while motor leads 86 and 87 extend through theclosingplate 84 to be secured to a contact rivet 8S and the commonjunction 85 respectively. The

E d supporting disk 82 further has connected thereto a contact rivet S9connected to the bracket 81 and extending beneath the Supporting diskand a pivot pin 9) on which a switch actuating arm 91 is mounted. Thearm 91 has a cam surface 92 which, as in the previously describedembodiment, engages a flexible conductor 93 having one portion securedto the contact rivet 88 while its other end 94 is movable by the camsurface 92 into and out of engagement with the Contact rivet 89.Enclosing the bottom of the lower casing is a circular plate 9S havingan opening 96 through which an electric plug (not shown) may extend tobe in electrical contact with the terminals 78 and 79. Additionally, theswitch arm has a yportion 97 that extends from the casing formanipulation by the user. v

In accordance with the present invention the switch arm torestalls theenergizing of the motor from the battery whenever the terminals have anelectric plug connected thereto for energizing the battery. Accordinglythe switch arm is formed to have an abutment 98 that partiallyencircles, as shown by the dotted line position of the switch arm inFIG. 12, the terminal 78 when the switch arm is in the motor energizingposition. Thus if a plug is connected to the terminals the switch armcannot be moved to its motor energizing position while if the motor isenergized, a plug cannot be secured to the terminals.

lt will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a poweractuator for a toothbrush which pro- Vides for the control of theamplitude of vibration of a toothbrush carried thereby. In addition, thepower actuator is so constructed and arranged that it is capable ofreceiving the normal conventional toothbrush handle and to grasp thesame and cause it to be vibrated by the power actuator. The poweractuator may utilize either dry cells, as in the rst describedembodiment, or it may use rechargeable batteries, as described in thesecond embodiment. In both embodiments, however, the only change is inthe lower casing which does not require alteration of the other parts sothat in both ernbodiments many parts are common and hence may beeconomically manufactured.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1, A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motormeans is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on saidhandle for vibratory movement' with respect thereto, means for adjustingthe amplitude of vibratory movement and toothbrush handle grasping meanscarried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated bysaid vibrating means.

2. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motormeans is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on saidhandle for vibratory movement with respect thereto, means for adjustingthe degree of resilience of said support to thereby provide adjustmentof the amplitude of vibratory movement and toothbrush handle graspingmeans carried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibratedby said vibrating means.

3. The invention as dened in claim 2 in which the adjustment meansincludes a member mounted for movement with respect to the motor supportand having at least a portion located outside of the handle to bemanually accessible.

4. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motormeans is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on saidhandle for vibratory movement with respect thereto and including aspring connected between the motor support and the handle, means foradjusting the degree of resilience of said support by varying thetension of said spring to thereby provide adjustment of the amplitude ofvibratory movement and toothbrush handle grasping means carried by saidmotor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibratingmeans.

5. The invention as dened in claim 4 in which the resilient mountingmeans of the motor support further includes a resilient memberpositioned between the handle and the motor support.

6. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motormeans is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on saidhandle for vibratory movement with respect thereto and including aspring connected between the motor support and the handle and aresilient member positioned between the handle and the motor support,means for adjusting the degree of resilience of said support andincluding a manually movable nut engaging the motor support and thehandle for moving the motor support with respect to the handle tothereby provide adjustment of the amplitude of vibratory movement byvarying the tension of said spring and toothbrush handle grasping meanscarried by said motor support whereby said toothbrush is vibrated bysaid vibrating means.

7. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portionextending within the handle to which said motor is secured and aprojecting portion extending beyond the handle, a pair of jaws carriedby said portion, adjusting means engaging the jaws and motor support formoving the jaws to grasp a toothbrush handle positioned therebetween,and means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle torvibratory movement with respect thereto whereby said toothbrush isvibrated by said vibrating means.

S. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portionextending within the handle to which said motor is secured and aprojecting portion extending beyond the handle and having a wall portiondeiining a substantially deep recess, and having a pair of jaws carriedby said portion, said jaws being positioned adjacent the opening of therecess and having planar faces for engaging opposite side portions of atoothbrush handle extending into the recess, adjusting means engagingthe jaws and motor support for moving the jaws to grasp the toothbrushhandle portion positioned therebetween, and means resiliently mountingthe motor support on said handle for vibratory movement with respectthereto whereby said toothbrush is vibrated by said vibrating means.

9. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubular handle,electric motor vibrating means in said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support having a portionextending within the handle to which said motor is secured and aprojecting portion extending beyond the handle, a pair of jaws carriedby said portion, adjusting means engaging the jaws and motor support formoving the jaws to grasp a toothbrush handle positioned therebetween,and means resiliently mounting the motor support on said handle forvibratory movement with respect thereto whereby said toothbrush isvibrated by said vibrating means.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 in which each jaw has a ilaringportion engaging the end of the wall and the adjustable means for movingthe jaws causes said end to engage the flaring portion to effectgrasping movement of the jaws.

11. A power actuator for a toothbrush comprising a hollow tubularhandle, electric motor vibrating means in'said handle and adapted uponenergization to produce vibrations, a motor support to which said motormeans is secured, means resiliently mounting the motor support on saidhandle for vibratory movement with respect thereto, toothbrush handlegrasping means carried by said motor support, said handle including alower casing, a battery positioned with said casing and connected to themotor means to supply electrical energy thereto, a xed contact and amovable contact inseries circuit with said battery and motor and apivoted switch arm for effecting electrical connections between saidfixed and movable contacts.

12. The invention as defined in claim ll in which the battery is of therechargeable type, a pair of terminals electrically connected theretoand adapted to be connected to a source of electircal energy forrecharging the battery and meansfor preventing electrical connectionbetween said xed and movable contacts when the battery is beingrecharged.

13. The invention as dened in claim 11 in which the battery is of therechargeable type, a pair of terminals electrically connected theretoand adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy and anabutment on said switch arm movable in the contact closing position topartially encircle at least one of said terminals.

No references cited.

ORIS L. RADER, Primary Examiner.

1. A POWER ACTUATOR FOR A TOOTHBRUSH COMPRISING A HOLLOW TUBULAR HANDLEELECTRIC MOTOR VIBRATING MEANS IN SAID HANDLE AND ADAPTED UPONENERGIZATION TO PRODUCE VIBRATIONS, A MOTOR SUPPORT TO WHICH SAID MOTORMEANS IS SECURED MEANS RESILIENTLY MOUNTING THE MOTOR SUPPORT ON SAIDHANDLE FOR VIBRATORY MOEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, MEANS FOR ADJUSTINGTHE AMPLITUDE OF VIBRATORY